Major League Baseball 2K7

"Best simulation baseball game to date"

2K Sports' latest baseball installment, MLB 2K7, is a major improvement over last year's game, which was viewed by many as a disappointment. This game had a lot of hype, and in my opinion it was worth the wait.

GRAPHICS 9/10

The visuals of this game are amazing, from jerseys flapping in the wind to the blades of grass that are visible. Unlike last year's game, where Mariano Rivera and Jose Reyes had the same face, most of the players now look like their real life counterparts. The stadiums look pretty good, though it could be better. Most players now have signature animations which all look superb, from David Wright putting the bat under his arm and adjusting his glove before every pitch to Nomar adjusting his batting gloves. Homerun animations are added as well, as Griffey drops the bat and stares at the ball before trotting, and Carlos Beltran flips the bat and trots around the bases. Also, the many marks on Hideki Matsui's face are clearly visible, and almost lifelike.

GAMEPLAY 8/10

Pretty much all the gameplay quirks from last year are gone. If you remember, in MLB 2K6 you would hit a double off the wall and not be able to get a double. Well that is fixed. The fielding isn't like last year, it is much more fluid, though there are some rare moments when it may not feel so good. The tons of new animations from fielding groundballs and catching flyballs are a major improvement. Players still rob homeruns at a larger rate then they should, but aside from that I really can't point out any other problems. If your having problems, adjust the sliders accordingly and everything will be fine

PRESENTATION 9/10

Jon Miller and Joe Morgan do a fabulous job on the commentary. Many new comments added and some are back from last year. They sound just like they do in the booth together. There are many new angles on the replays which make it a lot more realistic. And for those concerned about how the authenticity of the game is displayed, it is absolutely amazing. There are ball boys sitting in the outfield. When you warm up a pitcher, you see him warming up in the bullpen. If pitchers are on base, they have jackets on. Behind the mound they have that thing pitchers use to get dirt off their cleats. These things make it a lot more enjoyable playing the game

LASTING APPEAL 10/10

With the new layout on the franchise mode and the few options added to it, combined with the revamped gameplay and enhanced graphics, this game is addicting to any avid baseball fanatic. Add the GM Career, and you can't go wrong

Overall, this is definitely the best baseball simulation on the market right now, and if you want a baseball game I highly recommend picking this one up. I highly doubt you would be disappointed, as the leap from last year to this year is rather impressive

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 03/12/07